Chapter 27: A Beast Betrayed

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: A Beast Betrayed ???? Previously: Jemil and his six beast girls passed the First Floor of the Tower—a dreamlike trial of emotional reflection. Their bond grew stronger, earning them the Shared Soul trait, linking their emotional and physical states. But as the Tower opens its Second Floor, the dream gives way to something darker. Because not every bond was built on honesty. And not every beast has let go of the past. ???? The Locked Door The path upward was clear—until they reached a stone door inscribed with runes only one person could read: Lyra. "Shadow runes," she muttered. "Ancient binding text. It’s a... loyalty contract." "Loyalty to who?" Jemil asked. She stepped back, expression tight. "To a former summoner. Before I ever met you." The system chimed in ominously: [Floor 2 Trial: Betrayal] [A bond among you is incomplete or falsely claimed] [To proceed: Reveal the deception, or be consumed by it] ⚔️ Echoes of a Contract The Tower walls shifted again, throwing the group into another illusion—but this one wasn’t a dream. It was a memory. Lyra’s memory. They were in a dark chamber. Chains on the wall. Blood on the floor. A summoner, cloaked and cruel, stood before a younger Lyra. "I own your bond. You’ll never leave me," the man hissed. Jemil’s blood froze. The others stood silently, watching the scene unfold. "Lyra..." Mira whispered. "You never told us." "I didn’t think it mattered," she snapped. "It was broken. I killed him." But the system said otherwise: [Residual Contract Detected] [Core Contamination: 12%] [Bond Incomplete] ???? The Rift "You told me you trusted me," Jemil said quietly. "I do." "Then why didn’t you tell me you still bore his mark?" Lyra looked away. "Because if you knew... you’d wonder if I was still his." "I don’t care whose you were," Jemil said. "I care who you are now. And if there’s a part of you still bound, I want to break it with you. Not against you." ???? A Shadow Reborn Suddenly, the air turned cold. From the memory’s edges, the former summoner emerged—warped by hatred and illusion, reformed by the Tower’s magic. His beast mark glowed on Lyra’s chest, pulsing like a wound. "I told you," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "You are mine. No matter who kisses you." The girls surrounded Lyra instantly. Ursa growled. "Back off, creep. She’s with us now." Nyx cracked her knuckles. "I’ll take pleasure in un-killing him." ⚔️ Battle: System vs Contract [Boss Battle: Echo of the Old Master – Shadow Contract Manifestation] HP: ??? Traits: Emotional Leech, Command Override, Beastlock] Jemil’s commands failed. Lyra froze. The boss used her incomplete contract to disable her movement. "Stay back!" she shouted. "He’s using my soul as a tether!" "Then let’s cut it," Jemil said. ???? Fusion Sync: Shadow Sever Jemil invoked the full power of the Shared Soul trait. He projected his emotional tether into Lyra’s contract wound, pushing her memories away from the pain. "You are not his," he whispered. "And you never were." [Fusion Skill Activated: Shadow Sever – Break beast contracts through emotional override] [Requirements Met: Love > Fear] The summoner screamed. The rune shattered. Lyra’s eyes turned silver as her original form—her true form—emerged: a fox with ten tails, shadow and light fused together. She leapt forward and devoured the echo with a single bite. ???? Contract Broken [Bond Update: Lyra’s Core – Fully Unbound] [Trait Gained: Unchained Loyalty – Immune to charm, command, or force-based contracts] [New Skill: Soulcleave Fang] She turned to Jemil, breathing hard. "You shouldn’t have risked that," she said softly. "You risked your heart. I just followed." For the first time since they met... She kissed him. Not to evolve. Not to survive. Just because she wanted to. ???? Aftermath As the Tower calmed, the stone door melted away, revealing the path to Floor 3. The girls walked in silence. But closer. More together. Even Nyx didn’t complain when Ursa held her hand for a moment. And Sylfa offered Lyra a flower. A real one. One that bloomed. ✅ CTA – A Heart Freed Lyra’s arc comes to a close. But the Tower’s trials grow deadlier by the floor, now testing not just emotional strength... but loyalty, desire, and truth. ???? Were you surprised by Lyra’s hidden bond? Think another beast might be hiding something? Drop your theories, vote for Best Girl, and prepare your heart. ???? Add to Library, toss a Power Stone, and gear up for... Next: Chapter 28 – "Ursa’s Secret Smile" ????????